Venezuela: Four Dead in Protests Over Maduro's Election Win
Venezuela: AtFour Least Two Dead in Protests Over Maduro's Disputed Election Win
The Facts
Two people have been confirmed dead, with several other reports of deaths pending verification, as security forces and pro-government paramilitary colectivos clashed with demonstrators in protests over alleged electoral fraud that rocked Venezuela on Monday.At least four people have been confirmed dead after Venezuelan security forces tried to break up people protesting Pres. Nicolás Maduro's disputed election victory on Monday.
This comes as hundreds took part in an anti-government march from the poor neighborhood of Petare to downtown Caracas, and hundreds of others reached the city's international airport.Hundreds took part in an anti-government march from Petare to Caracas on Tuesday, while many others reached the capital city's international airport.
The Spin
This mockery of an election has shown that all effortefforts to ensure a peaceful democratic transition for Venezuela were in vain because Nicolás Maduro never really intended to carry out free and fair elections — let alone to leave power. González is the rightful president-elect, and the world's democracies must recognize that and put pressure on Maduro.
As expected, far-right mobs in Venezuela have turned back to street violence in yet another desperate, US-backed, undemocratic attempt to overthrow Maduro after losing the popular vote. It's no coincidence that a company closely linked to Washington and the opposition werewas responsible for exit polls suggesting outcomes far from the official results.